Contents
English
Wikipedia has an article on: CattleEtymology
From Middle English catel < Anglo-Norman catel (“‘personal property’”) < Mediaeval Latin capitale from capitalis (“‘of the head’”), from caput 'head' + -alis '-al'.
Pronunciation
Noun
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Singular cattle |
Plural countable and uncountable; plural cattle |
cattle (countable and uncountable; plural cattle) (usually used as plural)
- Domesticated bovine animals (cows, bulls, steers etc).
- Do you want to raise cattle?
- Certain other livestock, such as sheep, pigs or horses.
- (pejorative, figuratively) People who resemble domesticated bovine animals in behavior or destiny.
- 1961, Gerald Hanley, The Journey Homeward[1], page 155:
- "I always knew it, but I always denied it, because I'm one of them, and I'm like them." ¶"We're just cattle," the Prison Governor said, relieved now.
- 1961, Gerald Hanley, The Journey Homeward[1], page 155:
- (obsolete, English law, sometimes countable) chattel
- goods and cattle
- 1552, Parliament of England, An Act for the Uniformity of Common Prayer, and Service in the Church, and Administration of the Sacraments[2]:
- That then every person so offending and convict, shall for his third offence, forfeit to our Sovereign Lady the Queen, all his goods and cattles, and shall suffer imprisonment during his life.
- 1684, Records of the Colony of New Plymouth, in New England, published 1856:
- 1684 July. Mistris Dorothy Gray, Adminnestratrix of the Goods and Cattles of Mr Edward Gray, late of Plymouth, deceased, […]
- (uncountable, rare) Beef.
- I hate eating cattle.
Usage notes
There is no singular form for "cattle", and the words for the particular types of cattle are used: "bull", "calf" etc.
- There are five cows and a calf in that herd of cattle.
Where the type is unknown, "cow" is often used (although properly a cow is only an adult female).
- Is that a cow in the road?
When used as an uncountable noun, the phrase "head of cattle" is used for countable quantities of cattle.
- He sold 50 head of cattle last year.
However, "cattle" is often used as an ordinary plural rather than as as an uncountable noun.
- I have fifteen cattle.
In some circumstances the uncountable form is not used.
- How many cattle? (not how much cattle?).
Quotations
- For examples of the usage of this term see the citations page.
Synonyms
- (Scientific): Bos
Derived terms
terms derived from cattle
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Related terms
See also
Other entries associated with cattleAnagrams
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Jakarta Post
The government recently launched a credit scheme for farmers, cooperatives and local cattle breeders in Malang, East Java. The launch was marked by the ...
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was unrelated to the Brahman From their research they identified the Borans as having the characteristics required Characteristics The Boran is a medium sized beef animal that looks similar to a Brahman Their colour combinations can vary between white grey black fawn and red They are recognised
